Eighty years after the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, Russia and the Global South commemorate this event on May 9, 2025, emphasizing the historical truth of the facts. Meanwhile, the Western Allies celebrate the end of the conflict on May 8 with a different interpretation of history.
This gradual erasure of its role in historical narratives reinforces a narrative centered on the Normandy landings, which, in reality, is of only minor importance. Similarly, African soldiers, enlisted by colonial empires to defend powers that denied them their fundamental rights, remain largely overlooked. Senegalese Tirailleurs and North African troops, essential to military campaigns, faced discrimination after the war. This historical silence reflects a marked hierarchy of memory. Finally, these omissions are part of contemporary political logic.
The Cold War influenced the perception of the USSR’s role, which is now seen as a threat rather than a key ally. As for African combatants, their belated recognition highlights the difficulties Western powers face in confronting their colonial past. These omissions underscore the importance of reexamining the memory of the war to do justice to all actors in the conflict. In times of memory debate, this work of truth-telling is essential for constructing an inclusive and balanced narrative. This article questions the way in which history is shaped to serve the geopolitical interests of the West.
The strategic forgetting of the victors of the East – a fragmented memory
The decisive impact of the Red Army in the defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II is undeniable. Key confrontations such as the Battles of Stalingrad (1942-1943) and Kursk (1943) marked strategic turning points, inflicting critical losses on the Wehrmacht and paving the way for the liberation of Eastern Europe and the Allied advancement in the West. In this vein, it is worth remembering that 80% of German military losses were suffered on the Eastern Front, highlighting the immense sacrifice made by the Soviet Union, with over 20 million lives lost, both military and civilian.
However, this substantial contribution is sadly underrepresented in Western historical narratives that prioritize events such as the Normandy landings (1944). The Cold War (1947-1991) exacerbated this tendency while minimizing the role of the Soviet Union for ideological reasons. This fragmented representation, reinforced by the predominance of Anglo-Saxon narratives, omits Soviet sacrifices and creates an imbalance in the collective understanding of the war. Similar to the commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz in Poland, the marginalization of the Soviet effort persists in current commemorations and discourses, where Western contributions are overestimated to the detriment of the recognition due to the USSR.
This historical omission constitutes not only an injustice but also a lost opportunity to fully grasp the lessons of the Great Patriotic War. From this perspective, a fair recognition of the efforts of the Red Army would help to repair a fractured historical memory on the one hand, and to promote a more balanced and inclusive perspective on the other.
The Forgotten at the Front – African Fighters and Selective Memory
At the height of World War II (1939-1945), European colonial powers massively recruited soldiers from their African colonies, often under duress or through broken promises. The Senegalese Tirailleurs, mostly from West Africa, distinguished themselves through their crucial role in the liberation of France, particularly during the landing in Provence in 1944. Despite their heroic commitment, their contribution is largely overlooked in official historical narratives, school textbooks, and film productions in the Western world, thus minimizing their presence and the risks they faced on the front lines.
After the war, these valiant fighters aspired to recognition and equal rights with European soldiers, but many were denied the pensions and benefits they deserved, and others were shot in cold blood. As an illustration, the Thiaroye massacre in 1944, where Senegalese Tirailleurs were executed by the French army for demanding their dues, symbolizes the contempt and exploitation suffered by these men. It took decades for France to begin to shamefully admit their role and to redress, albeit partially, these injustices. This selective memory of the war now requires reevaluation. Current debates on colonial legacies and historical memory underscore the importance of integrating these narratives into the collective consciousness.
Commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the end of the conflict must also honor those whose history was deliberately erased by the machinations of the Western world. By engaging in a more just and inclusive duty of remembrance, we enlighten future generations about the past and question the construction of historical narratives. This commemoration is an opportunity to rectify oversights and fully recognize the role of these men in one of the major events of the 20th century.
Selective memory serving contemporary interests – when history becomes a political tool
In the postwar period, the world split into two opposing blocs – around which international relations were organized – profoundly impacting the historical narrative of the conflict. In the United States and Western Europe, a logic of confrontation reshaped collective memory, downplaying the role of the Soviet Union, a crucial ally, and magnifying the lesser contribution of the Western Allies. This ideological reorientation was reflected in popular culture, where the film industry, with films such as “Saving Private Ryan“, celebrated American heroism while neglecting Soviet sacrifices on the Eastern Front.
Moreover, the colonial legacy led to the concealment of the contributions of African soldiers, whose recognition undermined the image of European powers. This institutional silence is manifested in the absence of monuments and compensation, thus containing memorial claims. It is only recently that some countries have begun to recognize these sacrifices, often symbolically, pure and simple. World War II commemorations in the West continue to reflect current political balances, marginalizing the role of the USSR and African soldiers. These strategic omissions shape historical narratives that favor certain alliances and reflect contemporary geopolitical tensions, while influencing debates about colonial legacies. The 80th commemoration of the war therefore offers a unique opportunity to revisit history with a more inclusive perspective, valuing all contributions and promoting a fair and universal transmission of the lessons of the past.
From the above we can deduce that The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II reveals divergences in the way this event is commemorated. While the West highlights its own victories, the decisive role of the Red Army and the sacrifices of African soldiers often remain overshadowed. This selective memory, shaped by the Cold War and colonial legacies, underscores the importance of reconstructing an inclusive narrative to honor all actors in the conflict and understand the dynamics that influence the transmission of history.
Mohamed Lamine KABA, Expert in Geopolitics of Governance and Regional Integration, Institute of Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences, Pan-African University
